The 2009 Big 12 Wrestling Championship will be held on Saturday, March 7, at the NU Coliseum in Lincoln, Neb. Doors open at 10 a.m. CT, with the first round beginning at 11 a.m. CT. All five nationally ranked league squads will be in action for the 13th annual event.

No. 3 Iowa State leads the conference nationally, followed by No. 4 Nebraska, No. 5 Missouri, No. 12 Oklahoma State and No. 13 Oklahoma. ISU is the two-time defending champion heading into the event, while the Cowboys lead the league having won eight team titles to date. Both host Nebraska and Missouri are biding for their first Big 12 crowns, while the Sooners will be competing for their third.

The Big 12 has 33 wrestlers currently nationally-ranked through all nine weight classes, including 20 in the top 10 and nine in the top five. The conference also has the two top-ranked grappers overall in Iowa State’s Jake Varner (197) and David Zabriskie (HWT). A total of nine wrestlers from last season’s championship return this year to defend their place atop the podium.

Located in the heart of campus next to Memorial Stadium, the NU Coliseum is one of the nation’s top venues for college wrestling. The Coliseum was home to the National Duals from 1993 to 1997, and will be the host site for this year’s league Championship for the first time. The venue can seat 4,030 fans.

Tickets are still available. All-session packages are $20 for reserved seating, or $15 for general admission. Single -session tickets will be available at the door for $12 (reserved) and $8 (general) for each of the two sessions.